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The Chronicler · Post-Exilic Compiler

1 Chronicles · Chapter 4דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים א

The genealogy of Judah's descendants and the prayer of Jabez
Chapter Overview

Judah's lineage expands through detailed family records. This chapter continues the genealogical record of Judah's tribe, tracing descendants through various clans and settlements. The narrative pauses to highlight Jabez, whose prayer for blessing and protection God answered, before returning to catalog the families of craftsmen, potters, and those who served the king.

1 Chronicles 4:1-23

Genealogy of Judah's Descendants

LSB Text
1The sons of Judah were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath, and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites. 3These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi. 4Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. 5Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 6Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7The sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8Koz became the father of Anub and Zobebah and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum. 9Now Jabez was more honored than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, "Because I bore him with pain." 10And Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil so that it does not pain me!" And God brought about what he requested. 11Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12Eshton became the father of Beth-rapha and Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah. 13Now the sons of Kenaz were Othniel and Seraiah. And the sons of Othniel were Hathath and Meonothai. 14Meonothai became the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of Ge-harashim, for they were craftsmen. 15The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh were Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the son of Elah was Kenaz. 16The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. 17The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. (And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took as wife.) And she bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. 18His Jewish wife bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. 19The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. 20The sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. 21The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea; 22and Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash, Saraph, who ruled in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. Now the records are ancient. 23These were the potters and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah; they lived there with the king for his work.
Hebrew Text
1בְּנֵ֖י יְהוּדָ֑ה פֶּ֥רֶץ חֶצְרֹ֖ון וְכַרְמִ֥י וְח֖וּר וְשֹׁובָֽל׃ 2וּרְאָיָ֤ה בֶן־שֹׁובָל֙ הֹולִ֣יד אֶת־יַ֔חַת וְיַ֣חַת הֹולִ֔יד אֶת־אֲחוּמַ֖י וְאֶת־לָ֑הַד אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ות הַצָּרְעָתִֽי׃ 3וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ אֲבִ֣י עֵיטָ֔ם יִזְרְעֶ֥אל וְיִשְׁמָ֖א וְיִדְבָּ֑שׁ וְשֵׁ֥ם אֲחֹותָ֖ם הַצְלֶלְפֹּונִֽי׃ 4וּפְנוּאֵל֙ אֲבִ֣י גְדֹ֔ור וְעֵ֖זֶר אֲבִ֣י חוּשָׁ֑ה אֵ֤לֶּה בְנֵי־חוּר֙ בְּכֹ֣ור אֶפְרָ֔תָה אֲבִ֖י בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃ 5וּלְאַשְׁחוּר֙ אֲבִ֣י תְקֹ֔ועַ הָי֖וּ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֑ים חֶלְאָ֖ה וְנַעֲרָֽה׃ 6וַתֵּ֤לֶד לֹו֙ נַעֲרָ֔ה אֶת־אֲחֻזָּ֥ם וְאֶת־חֵ֖פֶר וְאֶת־תֵּימְנִ֣י וְאֶת־הָאֲחַשְׁתָּרִ֑י אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י נַעֲרָֽה׃ 7וּבְנֵ֖י חֶלְאָ֑ה צֶ֥רֶת וְצֹ֖חַר וְאֶתְנָֽן׃ 8וְקֹ֣וץ הֹולִ֔יד אֶת־עָנ֖וּב וְאֶת־הַצֹּבֵבָ֑ה וּמִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ות אֲחַרְחֵ֖ל בֶּן־הָרֽוּם׃ 9וַיְהִ֣י יַעְבֵּ֔ץ נִכְבָּ֖ד מֵאֶחָ֑יו וְאִמֹּ֗ו קָרְאָ֨ה שְׁמֹ֤ו יַעְבֵּץ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כִּ֥י יָלַ֖דְתִּי בְּעֹֽצֶב׃ 10וַיִּקְרָ֣א יַ֠עְבֵּץ לֵאלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־בָּרֵ֨ךְ תְּבָרְכֵ֜נִי וְהִרְבִּ֤יתָ אֶת־גְּבוּלִי֙ וְהָיְתָ֤ה יָדְךָ֙ עִמִּ֔י וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ מֵּרָעָ֖ה לְבִלְתִּ֣י עָצְבִּ֑י וַיָּבֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁאָֽל׃ 11וּכְל֥וּב אֲחִֽי־שׁוּחָ֖ה הֹולִ֣יד אֶת־מְחִ֑יר ה֖וּא אֲבִ֥י אֶשְׁתֹּֽון׃ 12וְאֶשְׁתֹּ֗ון הֹולִ֞יד אֶת־בֵּ֤ית רָפָא֙ וְאֶת־פָּסֵ֔חַ וְאֶת־תְּחִנָּ֖ה אֲבִ֣י עִ֣יר נָחָ֑שׁ אֵ֖לֶּה אַנְשֵׁ֥י רֵכָֽה׃ 13וּבְנֵ֣י קְנַ֔ז עָתְנִיאֵ֖ל וּשְׂרָיָ֑ה וּבְנֵ֥י עָתְנִיאֵ֖ל חֲתַ֥ת וּמְעֹונֹתָֽי׃ 14וּמְעֹונֹתַ֖י הֹולִ֣יד אֶת־עָפְרָ֑ה וּשְׂרָיָ֗ה הֹולִ֤יד אֶת־יֹואָב֙ אֲבִי֙ גֵּ֣יא חֲרָשִׁ֔ים כִּ֥י חֲרָשִׁ֖ים הָיֽוּ׃ 15וּבְנֵי֙ כָּלֵ֣ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֔ה עִ֥ירוּ אֵלָ֖ה וָנָ֑עַם וּבְנֵ֥י אֵלָ֖ה וּקְנַֽז׃ 16וּבְנֵ֖י יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל זִ֣יף וְזִיפָ֔ה תִּירְיָ֖א וַאֲשַׂרְאֵֽל׃ 17וּבְנֵ֣י עֶזְרָ֔ה יֶ֥תֶר וּמֶ֖רֶד וְעֵ֣פֶר וְיָלֹ֑ון וַתַּ֙הַר֙ אֶת־מִרְיָ֣ם וְאֶת־שַׁמַּ֔י וְאֶת־יִשְׁבָּ֖ח אֲבִ֥י אֶשְׁתְּמֹֽעַ׃ 18וְאִשְׁתֹּ֣ו הַיְהֻדִיָּ֗ה יָלְדָ֞ה אֶת־יֶ֨רֶד אֲבִ֤י גְדֹור֙ וְאֶת־חֶ֙בֶר֙ אֲבִ֣י שֹׂוכֹ֔ו וְאֶת־יְקֽוּתִיאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֣י זָנֹ֑וחַ וְאֵ֗לֶּה בְּנֵי֙ בִּתְיָ֣ה בַת־פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקַ֖ח מָֽרֶד׃ 19וּבְנֵי֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת הֹֽודִיָּ֔ה אֲחֹ֖ות נַ֣חַם אֲבִ֣י קְעִילָ֑ה הַגַּרְמִ֖י וְאֶשְׁתְּמֹ֥עַ הַמַּעֲכָתִֽי׃ 20וּבְנֵ֣י שִׁימֹ֔ון אַמְנֹ֣ון וְרִנָּ֔ה בֶּן־חָנָ֖ן וְתִילֹ֑ון וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׁעִ֔י זֹוחֵ֖ת וּבֶן־זֹוחֵֽת׃ 21בְּנֵי֙ שֵׁלָ֣ה בֶן־יְהוּדָ֔ה עֵ֚ר אֲבִ֣י לֵכָ֔ה וְלַעְדָּ֖ה אֲבִ֣י מָרֵשָׁ֑ה וּמִשְׁפְּחֹ֛ות בֵּית־עֲבֹדַ֥ת הַבֻּ֖ץ לְבֵ֥ית אַשְׁבֵּֽעַ׃ 22וְיֹוקִ֞ים וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י כֹזֵבָ֗א וְיֹואָ֧שׁ וְשָׂרָ֛ף אֲשֶׁר־בָּעֲל֥וּ לְמֹואָ֖ב וְיָשֻׁ֣בִי לָ֑חֶם וְהַדְּבָרִ֖ים עַתִּיקִֽים׃ 23הֵ֚מָּה הַיֹּ֣וצְרִ֔ים וְיֹשְׁבֵ֥י נְטָעִ֖ים וּגְדֵרָ֑ה עִם־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ בִּמְלַאכְתֹּ֖ו יָ֥שְׁבוּ שָֽׁם׃
1bĕnê yĕhûdâ pereṣ ḥeṣrôn wĕkarmî wĕḥûr wĕšôbāl. 2ûrĕʾāyâ ben-šôbāl hôlîd ʾet-yaḥat wĕyaḥat hôlîd ʾet-ʾăḥûmay wĕʾet-lāhad ʾēlleh mišpĕḥôt haṣṣārĕʿātî. 3wĕʾēlleh ʾăbî ʿêṭām yizrĕʿeʾl wĕyišmāʾ wĕyidbāš wĕšēm ʾăḥôtām haṣlelpônî. 4ûpĕnûʾēl ʾăbî gĕdôr wĕʿēzer ʾăbî ḥûšâ ʾēlleh bĕnê-ḥûr bĕkôr ʾeprātâ ʾăbî bêt lāḥem. 5ûlĕʾašḥûr ʾăbî tĕqôaʿ hāyû šĕttê nāšîm ḥelʾâ wĕnaʿărâ. 6wattēled lô naʿărâ ʾet-ʾăḥuzzām wĕʾet-ḥēper wĕʾet-têmĕnî wĕʾet-hāʾăḥaštārî ʾēlleh bĕnê naʿărâ. 7ûbĕnê ḥelʾâ ṣeret wĕṣōḥar wĕʾetnān. 8wĕqôṣ hôlîd ʾet-ʿānûb wĕʾet-haṣṣōbēbâ ûmišp
Key Words
Grammar & Argument

1 Chronicles 4:24-43

Genealogy of Simeon and Their Territorial Expansion

LSB Text
24The sons of Simeon were Nemuel and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; 25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. 26Now the sons of Mishma were Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son. 27Now Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many sons, nor did all their family multiply like the sons of Judah. 28And they lived at Beersheba, Moladah, and Hazar-shual, 29at Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David. 32Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities; 33and all their villages that were around the same cities as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they have their genealogical registration. 34Meshobab and Jamlech and Joshah the son of Amaziah, 35and Joel and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel, 36and Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah— 38these mentioned by name were princes in their families; and their fathers' houses increased greatly. 39And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks. 40And they found rich and good pasture, and the land was broad and quiet and peaceful; for those who lived there formerly were Hamites. 41Now these, written down by name, came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and devoted them to destruction to this day, and lived in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42And some of them, five hundred men of the sons of Simeon, went to Mount Seir, with Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, as their heads. 43And they struck down the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and have lived there to this day.
Hebrew Text
24בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְעֹ֗ון נְמוּאֵ֤ל וְיָמִין֙ יָרִ֣יב זֶ֔רַח שָׁא֖וּל׃ 25שַׁלֻּ֥ם בְּנֹ֛ו מִבְשָׂ֥ם בְּנֹ֖ו מִשְׁמָ֥ע בְּנֹֽו׃ 26וּבְנֵ֣י מִשְׁמָ֔ע חַמּוּאֵ֥ל בְּנֹ֖ו זַכּ֣וּר בְּנֹ֑ו שִׁמְעִ֖י בְּנֹֽו׃ 27וּלְשִׁמְעִ֞י בָּנִ֨ים שִׁשָּׁ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ וּבָנֹ֣ות שֵׁ֔שׁ וּלְאֶחָיו֙ אֵ֣ין בָּנִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים וְכֹל֙ מִשְׁפַּחְתָּ֔ם לֹ֥א הִרְבּ֖וּ עַד־בְּנֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃ 28וַיֵּֽשְׁב֛וּ בִּבְאֵֽר־שֶׁ֥בַע וּמֹולָדָ֖ה וַחֲצַ֥ר שׁוּעָֽל׃ 29וּבְבִלְהָ֥ה וּבְעֶ֖צֶם וּבְתֹולָֽד׃ 30וּבִבְתוּאֵ֥ל וּבְחָרְמָ֖ה וּבְצִֽיקְלָֽג׃ 31וּבְבֵ֤ית מַרְכָּבֹות֙ וּבַחֲצַ֣ר סוּסִ֔ים וּבְבֵ֥ית בִּרְאִ֖י וּבְשַֽׁעֲרָ֑יִם אֵ֥לֶּה עָרֵיהֶ֖ם עַד־מְלֹ֥ךְ דָּוִֽיד׃ 32וְחַצְרֵיהֶם֙ עֵיטָ֣ם וָעַ֔יִן רִמֹּ֥ון וְתֹ֖כֶן וְעָשָׁ֑ן עָרִ֖ים חָמֵֽשׁ׃ 33וְכָל־חַצְרֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר סְבִיבֹ֛ות הֶעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה עַד־בָּ֑עַל זֹ֚את מֹושְׁבֹתָ֔ם וְהִתְיַחְשָׂ֖ם לָהֶֽם׃ 34וּמְשֹׁובָ֣ב וְיַמְלֵ֔ךְ וְיֹושָׁ֖ה בֶּן־אֲמַצְיָֽה׃ 35וְיֹואֵ֑ל וְיֵהוּא֙ בֶּן־יֹושִׁבְיָ֔ה בֶּן־שְׂרָיָ֖ה בֶּן־עֲשִׂיאֵֽל׃ 36וְאֶלְיֹועֵינַ֡י וְֽיַעֲקֹ֡בָה וִ֠ישֹׁוחָיָה וַעֲשָׂיָ֧ה וַעֲדִיאֵ֛ל וִישִׂימִאֵ֖ל וּבְנָיָֽה׃ 37וְזִיזָ֨א בֶן־שִׁפְעִ֧י בֶן־אַלֹּ֛ון בֶּן־יְדָיָ֥ה בֶן־שִׁמְרִ֖י בֶּן־שְׁמַֽעְיָֽה׃ 38אֵ֚לֶּה הַבָּאִ֣ים בְּשֵׁמֹ֔ות נְשִׂיאִ֖ים בְּמִשְׁפְּחֹותָ֑ם וּבֵית֙ אֲבֹ֣ותֵיהֶ֔ם פָּרְצ֖וּ לָרֹֽוב׃ 39וַיֵּלְכוּ֙ לִמְבֹ֣וא גְדֹ֔ר עַ֖ד לְמִזְרַ֣ח הַגָּ֑יְא לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ מִרְעֶ֖ה לְצֹאנָֽם׃ 40וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ מִרְעֶה֙ שָׁמֵ֣ן וָטֹ֔וב וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ רַחֲבַ֣ת יָדַ֔יִם וְשֹׁקֶ֖טֶת וּשְׁלֵוָ֑ה כִּ֣י מִן־חָ֔ם הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים שָׁ֖ם לְפָנִֽים׃ 41וַיָּבֹ֡אוּ אֵלֶּה֩ הַכְּתוּבִ֨ים בְּשֵׁמֹ֜ות בִּימֵ֣י ׀ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיַּכּ֨וּ אֶת־אָהֳלֵיהֶ֜ם וְאֶת־הַמְּעוּנִ֨ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִמְצְאוּ־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ וַיַּחֲרִימֻם֙ עַד־הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֔ה וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־מִרְעֶ֥ה לְצֹאנָ֖ם שָֽׁם׃ 42וּמֵהֶ֣ם ׀ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְעֹ֗ון הָלְכוּ֙ לְהַ֣ר שֵׂעִ֔יר אֲנָשִׁ֖ים חֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵאֹ֑ות וּפְלַטְיָ֡ה וּ֠נְעַרְיָה וּרְפָיָ֧ה וְעֻזִּיאֵ֛ל בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׁעִ֖י בְּרֹאשָֽׁם׃ 43וַיַּכּ֕וּ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֥ית הַפְּלֵטָ֖ה לַעֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיֵּ֣שְׁב֔וּ שָׁ֖ם עַ֥ד הַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃
24bĕnê šimʿôn nĕmûʾēl wĕyāmîn yārîb zeraḥ šāʾûl. 25šallum bĕnô mibśām bĕnô mišmāʿ bĕnô. 26ûbĕnê mišmāʿ ḥammûʾēl bĕnô zakkûr bĕnô šimʿî bĕnô. 27ûlĕšimʿî bānîm šiššâ ʿāśār ûbānôt šēš ûlĕʾeḥāyw ʾên bānîm rabbîm wĕkōl mišpaḥtām lōʾ hirbû ʿad-bĕnê yĕhûdâ. 28wayyēšĕbû biḇʾēr-šeḇaʿ ûmôlādâ waḥăṣar šûʿāl. 29ûḇilhâ ûḇeʿeṣem ûḇĕtôlād. 30ûḇiḇtûʾēl ûḇeḥormâ ûḇeṣîqĕlāḡ. 31ûḇĕḇêt markāḇôt ûḇaḥăṣar sûsîm ûḇĕḇêt birʾî ûḇešaʿărāyim ʾēlleh ʿārêhem ʿad-mĕlōk dāwîd. 32wĕḥaṣrêhem ʿêṭām wāʿayin rimmôn wĕtōken wĕʿāšān ʿārîm ḥāmēš. 33wĕkol-ḥaṣrêhem ʾăšer sĕḇîḇôt heʿārîm hāʾēlleh ʿad-bāʿal zōʾt môšĕḇōtām wĕhityaḥśām lāhem. 34ûmĕšôḇāḇ wĕyamlēk wĕyôšâ ben-ʾămaṣyâ. 35wĕyôʾēl wĕyēhûʾ ben-yôšiḇyâ ben-śĕrāyâ ben-ʿăśîʾēl. 36wĕʾelyôʿênay wĕyaʿăqōḇâ wîšôḥāyâ waʿăśāyâ waʿădîʾēl wîśîmîʾēl ûḇĕnāyâ. 37wĕzîzāʾ ḇen-šipʿî ḇen-ʾallôn ben-yĕdāyâ ḇen-šimrî ben-šĕmaʿyâ. 38ʾēlleh habāʾîm bĕšēmôt nĕśîʾîm bĕmišpĕḥôtām ûḇêt ʾăḇôtêhem pārĕṣû lārôḇ. 39wayyēlĕkû limḇôʾ ḡĕdōr ʿad lĕmizraḥ haggāyĕʾ lĕḇaqqēš mirʿeh lĕṣōʾnām. 40wayyimṣĕʾû mirʿeh šāmēn wāṭôḇ wĕhāʾāreṣ raḥăḇat yādayim wĕšōqeṭet ûšĕlēwâ kî min-ḥām hayyōšĕḇîm šām lĕpānîm. 41wayyāḇōʾû ʾēlleh hakkĕtûḇîm bĕšēmôt bîmê yĕḥizqiyyāhû melek-yĕhûdâ wayyakkû ʾet-ʾohŏlêhem wĕʾet-hammĕʿûnîm ʾăšer nimṣĕʾû-šāmmâ wayyaḥărîmum ʿad-hayyôm hazzeh wayyēšĕḇû taḥtêhem kî-mirʿeh lĕṣōʾnām šām. 42ûmēhem min-bĕnê šimʿôn hālĕkû lĕhar śēʿîr ʾănāšîm ḥămēš mēʾôt ûpĕlaṭyâ ûnĕʿaryâ ûrĕpāyâ wĕʿuzzîʾēl bĕnê yišʿî bĕrōʾšām. 43wayyakkû ʾet-šĕʾērît happĕlēṭâ laʿămālēq wayyēšĕḇû šām ʿad hayyôm hazzeh.
Key Words
שִׁמְעֹון šimʿôn Simeon / hearing
The name Simeon derives from the root שָׁמַע (šāmaʿ), "to hear," reflecting Leah's declaration in Genesis 29:33 that "Yahweh has heard that I am unloved." The tribe of Simeon was absorbed into Judah's territory early in Israel's history, fulfilling Jacob's prophecy
Grammar & Argument